American Hornbeam Musclewood. As the American hop hornbeam matures, the shreddy bark develops into thin vertical strips, only slightly shredding at the ends. Hornbeam Varieties. The smooth sinewy blue-gray trunk of American hornbeam easily contrasts with the shreddy, brownish, grooved bark of the American hop hornbeam. Twigs are slender, gray or red, zigzag, with small buds. The leaves are alternate with a doubly toothed margin. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. Difficult to transplant due to deep spreading lateral roots. Hop_Hornbeam_bark_Maramec_Spring_6-4-17.jpg Hop Hornbeam Bark The bark of hop hornbeam is thin, reddish gray, with tight, narrow, platelike scales; some trees have loose, shreddy scales. The bark and inner wood was used to treat toothache, sore muscles, coughs, and many other ailments by American Indians. This gives the trunk a shredded look. The bark … Bark of the trunk of this tree is light brown in color. The American Hornbeam has forest green foliage throughout the season. For general undergraduate student information, contact Dr. Rick Durham at (859) 257-3249, or rdurham@uky.edu. Carpinus caroliniana, commonly called American hornbeam, is a slow-growing, deciduous, small to medium-sized understory tree with an attractive globular form.It is native to Missouri where it is typically found in rich moist woods, valleys, ravine bottoms and rocky slopes along streams throughout the eastern and Ozark regions of the state (Steyermark). Found nearly throughout the state, except for the northern and eastern sections where trees cover less of the landscape. The smooth, gray, muscular-looking bark of American hornbeam is attractive year-round. American hornbeam is more difficult to transplant than European hornbeam. Carpinus caroliniana American Hornbeam 20′ – 30′. In the wild musclewood is an understory tree featuring distinctive muscle like trunk and branches. In fall, the American hornbeam displays leaves of various colors, ranging from yellow to scarlet to reddish-purple. Hornbeam, Carpinus butulus is also referred to as ironwood or musclewood, because of its smooth bark and… Click here, then click on your county either on the map or from the list of counties below it. It is a tree that should be planted more in Nebraska and utilized as an understory tree or a specimen tree as it grows well in both sun and shade. For graduate student information, contact Dr. Doug Archbold at 859-257-3352, or darchbol@uky.edu, American Hornbeam - Carpinus carolinianaBirch Family (Betulaceae). The muscle-like bark is smooth, gray, and fluted. The American Hornbeam has forest green foliage throughout the season. American Hornbeam Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is an attractive small tree that is common, but not abundant in its natural range. The hoplike, green fruits are composed of many bladderlike scales, each bearing a small, flat nut. Fruit in long, hanging clusters of paired 3-lobed bracts (modified leaves), with each pair of bracts having a nutlet at its base. Plant narrow, upright trees in groups to create a living screen or windbreak. Proper maintenance and … The combination of trunk and bark should separate this tree from the American Hornbeam, with which it has shared an unusual history of confusion in common names. Site design : Academic Web Pages. caroliniana. N-318 Ag Sciences Center University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40546-0091, Fax (Lexington): 859-257-2859       (Princeton): 270-365-2667, For questions about home gardening, landscaping or commercial horticulture production, please contact your county extension agent. Because it is exceptionally strong and hard, the wood has been made into golf clubs, handles, fuels, cogs, levers, wedges, and more. The American hornbeam is a native forest understory tree in the Chicago area, making it useful for shady landscapes and naturalized or woodland gardens. It should be transplanted balled-and- burlapped in the spring. It can be found naturally in areas with moist soil including streambanks, riverbanks, and maritime forests. It is fractured into narrow scales, which are loose at their ends. Great Places to See American Hornbeam (Musclewood). Ironwood is a tough understory tree with beautiful birch-like leaves, grayish-brown flaky bark, fine-textured drooping branches, and attractive hop-like fruits. American hornbeam is a small tree reaching heights of 10–15 meters (35–50 ft), rarely 20 meters (65 ft), and often has a fluted and crooked trunk. Both young and aged bark … It is an understory tree that rarely grows much higher than 20 feet in the wild and often grows in clumps of several trunks. virginiana (Marshall) Fernald, and the southern var. Plant in the spring. Unlike the Eastern Hophornbeam, the wood of the American Hornbeam decays rapidly when in contact with soil. Bark is smooth, tight, thin, bluish gray, sometimes blotched, fluted into muscle-like ridges, hence the other common name, “musclewood.”. And they can present with leaf scorch or leaf spots. Like the American hornbeam, trunks have smooth gray bark and distinctive muscle-like fluting. History and Origins of the American Hornbeam. In fall, the American hornbeam displays leaves of various colors, ranging from yellow to scarlet to reddish-purple. Mammals ranging from rodents and rabbits to fox and deer browse the seeds, bark, wood, and twigs. American Hornbeam. american_hornbeam_carpinus_caroliniana.jpg, Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants. Copyright 2020, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. American hornbeam is a tall shrub or small tree, to 35 feet tall, with pendulous branches and a gray trunk that is fluted into musclelike ridges. Ornamental Features. Hornbeam - Confidence Genus: Carpinus. American Hornbeam is shade tolerant and perfect for spots which need a smaller tree but has shade. It usually grows 30 to 40 feet (9-12 m) tall [4,13,32,39].The bark is thin, close, and usually smooth. virginiana (Marshall) Fernald, and the southern var. A beautiful and underused native woodland tree; very interesting gray bark is almost muscular in appearance, makes a strong winter statement; also excellent blend of fall colors and curious hop-like fruit; good small multipurpose shade tree. An Equal Opportunity University. Be sure to come in the summer to admire its attractive yellow-green color and festive white flowers. The leaves turn dark green in summer and then come ablaze with shades of yellow and orange-red in fall. American hornbeams (Carpinus caroliniana) are by far the most popular of the hornbeams grown in the U.S. Another common name for this tree is blue beech, which comes from the blue-gray color of its bark. Eastern hophornbeam has loose strips of reddish brown to gray creating a rough, "clawed" bark. However, hornbeam trees can develop cankers, or dead sections on the bark or branches. Ironwood is considered one of Illinois' toughest native hardwoods and is not only ornamental but resistant to many disease and insect problems. For undergraduate student information regarding the Sustainable Agriculture program, contact Dr. Krista Jacobsen at (859) 257-3921, or krista.jacobsen@uky.edu. We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources. It is also a great food choice for wildlife found in the area. Musclewood deserves to be planted more widely as a shade tree. The attractive bark on a young American Hornbeam Source: Commons An attractive mature tree in the wild. American Hornbeam is shade tolerant and perfect for spots which need a smaller tree but has shade. Height: 20’ - 30’ Spread: 20’ - 30’ Shape: Round, spreading Site preference: Rich, moist soils Zone: 3b - 9a Wet/dry: Prefers moist soil, but will tolerate some intermittent drought. The tree is perhaps best known for its smooth and sinewy steel-gray bark and the muscle-like look of its maturing trunk and larger branches (thus one of its common names). Left to grow naturally your tree will develop a beautiful form, with attractive bark and a dense, rounded crown. Deer browse this tree's twigs and foliage. The American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is native to America, occurring naturally from Minnesota to Maine and south to Florida and east Texas. American hornbeam, also known as musclewood or blue beech, is a small, slow-growing understory tree native to hardwood forests of the eastern US and Canada. The shape of the bud is an identifying difference between the American hornbeam and the closely related European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). It is a small tree with a smooth, light colored, "muscled” bark and alternate, deciduous leaves. Noteworthy Characteristics. The American Hornbeam has forest green foliage throughout the season. It is found in north-facing bluffs, rich woods at bases of bluffs, rocky slopes along streams, ravine bottoms, low wooded valleys, and moist woodlands. American hornbeam typically comes from nurseries as a single-stem tree. The smooth, gray, muscular-looking bark of American hornbeam is attractive year-round. Most cultivars of American hornbeam are columnar in shape when they are young, then develop a pyramidal shape as they age. American Hornbeam is also known as Ironwood, Blue Beech, and Musclewood. The bark is another feature used to distinguish between these two birches. It is a small tree with a smooth, light colored, "muscled” bark and alternate, deciduous leaves. American hophornbeam, which loves hilly areas, has papery capsules containing nuts that are eaten by a variety of wildlife including grouse, bobwhite, deer, pheasant, rabbit and turkey. American hornbeam is a common indicator plant of Missouri’s upland forests. Vines require support or else sprawl over the ground. This earned it the … General Information. Leaves are simple, alternate, 2–5 inches long, 1–2 inches wide, with upper surface bluish green, dull; undersurface paler, mostly smooth, or with hairs in vein axils only, margins with small sharp teeth. It is a native understory tree in forests in the Eastern half of the U.S. and southernmost Canada. Both of the two recognized varieties occur in NC, the northern var. Carpinus caroliniana American Hornbeam 20′ – 30′. American hornbeam has a straight bud. Ironwood has a slow growth rate and is reportedly difficult to transplant from a field nursery (although 10-inch-diameter trees were moved with a 90-inch tree spade during the winter in USDA hardiness zone 8b with … Tolerates dry, shady sites. It has many common names, the most common include: blue beech because of its very smooth gray bark, and musclewood referring to its muscle-like branches which are irregularly fluted. Both of the two recognized varieties occur in NC, the northern var. American Hornbeam is also known as Ironwood, Blue Beech, and Musclewood. It is used for fence posts, fuel, and tool handles. Noteworthy Characteristics Carpinus caroliniana, commonly called American hornbeam, is a slow-growing, deciduous, small to medium-sized understory tree with an attractive globular form. The tree's look is enhanced by its crooked trunk and pendulous, zig-zagging branches, which help attract wildlife. Excellent tree for naturalized landscapes. European hornbeam has a curved bud. A beautiful and underused native woodland tree; very interesting gray bark is almost muscular in appearance, makes a strong winter statement; also excellent blend of fall colors and curious hop-like fruit; good small multipurpose shade tree. Trees are woody plants over 13 feet tall with a single trunk. Ironwood is considered one of Illinois' toughest native hardwoods and is not only ornamental but resistant to many disease and insect problems. The American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is native to America, occurring naturally from Minnesota to Maine and south to Florida and east Texas. Hornbeam encourages us to be confident and to flex our muscles, physically and intellectually. American Hornbeam is a great tree for Nebraska because it was selected as the 2016 Great Plants for the Great Plains Tree of the Year. Hornbeam wood is the hardest of any European trees. These plants can ordered online and shipped directly to you or picked up at the nursery. American Hornbeam or Musclewood. Send mail to cgcass0@uky.edu with questions about this site. It will grow with an attractive open habit in total shade, but be dense in full sun. “Wood” is a type of tissue made of cellulose and lignin that many plants develop as they mature — whether they are “woody” or not. The bark is smooth and greenish-grey, becoming shallowly fissured in all old trees. There are no sharp dividing lines between trees, shrubs, and woody vines, or even between woody and nonwoody plants. American hornbeam is a native, large shrub or small tree with a wide-spreading, flat-topped crown, the stems are slender, dark brown, hairy; bark gray, thin, usually smooth, with smooth, longitudinal fluting (resembling a flexed muscle). Light: Part shade Hardy To Zone: 3b Soil Ph: Can tolerate acid to neutral soil (pH 5.0 to 7.4) Moisture Tolerance: Occasionally saturated or very wet soil; Consistently moist, well-drained soil; Occasional periods of dry soil See graphic below American Hornbeam, Musclewood, or Ironwood, is a deciduous tree that may grow 30 to feet tall. A native tree with striking bark, it can be used in a naturalistic garden. Excellent tree for naturalized landscapes. American hornbeam has hard, spherical fruit hanging under leaf-like, 3-lobed bracts. It is located in Ulster County, New York. A handsome tree in many locations, the tree slowly reaches a height and spread of 20 to 30 feet. The tree's look is enhanced by its crooked trunk and pendulous, zig-zagging branches, which help attract wildlife. Flowers April–May; in catkins, with male and female on the same twig. WARNING: Some websites to which these materials provide links for the convenience of users are not managed by the University of Kentucky. American hornbeam is a common indicator plant of Missouri’s upland forests. This tree brings interest to the winter landscape, too, by displaying blue-gray bark with a slightly rippled appearance that earned the common name musclewood. History and Origins of the American Hornbeam. In the wild musclewood is an understory tree featuring distinctive muscle like trunk and branches. Source: Commons Shippable Sizes. American hornbeam, which is native to Illinois' woodlands, attains heights of 25 to 40 feet when mature. A native tree with striking bark, it can be used in a naturalistic garden. A mid size deciduous tree. This deciduous, medium-sized tree matures to 40-60’ tall and 30-40’ wide at a growth rate of about 12-24” per year. pH: 4.0 - 7.4 Native range: Eastern United States Other: Prefers shaded, moist soils. American hornbeams (Carpinus caroliniana) are by far the most popular of the hornbeams grown in the U.S. Another common name for this tree is blue beech, which comes from the blue-gray color of its bark. Scientific name: Carpinus caroliniana Pronunciation: kar-PYE-nus kair-oh-lin-ee-AY-nuh Common name(s): American hornbeam, blue-beech, ironwood Family: Betulaceae USDA hardiness zones: 3A through 9A (Figure 2) Origin: native to the majority of the eastern United States, southeast Quebec, and southwest Ontario UF/IFAS Invasive Assessment Status: native This site was last updated on December 18, 2020. The trunk is often crooked, and is usually coarsely fluted, resembling a flexed muscle [4,7,13].The fruit is a ribbed nutlet 0.16 to 0.24 inch (4-6 mm) long [3,4]. caroliniana.They are quite similar and many of the trees in the overlap range (such as in Durham County) are intergrades. The fruit is a small 7–8-millimeter ( ⁄32– ⁄16-inch) long nut, parti… March 11, 2016 Carpinus caroliniana. Its sinewy, smooth gray bark adds real interest, and the leaves are attractive in summer and fall. The Eastern Ironwood, known also as the American Hophornbeam, Eastern Hop-hornbeam, Hophornbeam, Ironwood, or Leverwood, stretches over much of the Eastern United States with its attractive foliage and bell-like inflorescences. The American hornbeam is extremely resistant to both pests and diseases, so problems rarely arise. The largest known American hornbeam in the U.S. is 69 feet tall and 2½ feet in diameter. The seed is eaten by birds, including bobwhite and wild turkey, and the catkins and buds are a primary food source for ruffed grouse. The American hornbeam is also occasionally known as blue-beech, ironwood, or musclewood, the first from the resemblance of the bark to that of the American beech Fagus grandifolia, the other two from the hardness of the wood and the muscular appearance of the trunk, respectively. Finches, ruffed grouse and wild turkeys eat American hornbeam nutlets. American hornbeam, which is native to Illinois' woodlands, attains heights of 25 to 40 feet when mature. American Hornbeam Musclewood. The leaves are alternate, 3–12 centimeters (1 ⁄4–4 ⁄4 in) long, with prominent veins giving a distinctive corrugated texture, and a serrated margin. American Hornbeam, usually called Ironwood in North Carolina, is a fairly common understory tree found mostly along streambanks. Shrubs are less than 13 feet tall, with multiple stems. American Hornbeam, usually called Ironwood in North Carolina, is a fairly common understory tree found mostly along streambanks. It is a native understory tree in forests in … American Hornbeam or Musclewood. The university does not review, control or take responsibility for the contents of those sites. A beautiful and underused native woodland tree; very interesting gray bark is almost muscular in appearance, makes a strong winter statement; also excellent blend of fall colors and curious hop-like fruit; good small multipurpose shade tree. Also, it is planted as an ornamental, especially on wet sites. Finches, ruffed grouse and wild turkeys eat American hornbeam nutlets. Find local MDC conservation agents, consultants, education specialists, and regional offices. Family: Betulaceae. Environmental Characteristics. It is time to break free of any self-imposed mind-trap that is preventing us from chasing our dreams. Ornamental Features. A mid size deciduous tree. Call 1-800-392-1111 to report poaching and arson. This tree has interesting reddish brown bark that is broken into narrow strips that are loose at both ends. Blue beech’s official name is American hornbeam without the “hop.” Its bark looks very different: smooth, blue-gray and muscular. Ironwood is a tough understory tree with beautiful birch-like leaves, grayish-brown flaky bark, fine-textured drooping branches, and attractive hop-like fruits. Ornamental Features. It is found in north-facing bluffs, rich woods at bases of bluffs, rocky slopes along streams, ravine bottoms, low wooded valleys, and moist woodlands. Left to grow naturally your tree will develop a beautiful form, with attractive bark and a dense, rounded crown. New leaves emerge reddish-purple, changing to dark green, then turn yellow to orange-red in the fall, offering a kaleidoscope of color throughout the year. GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : American hornbeam is a native, deciduous small tree. A North American native tree boasting a kaleidoscope of color, American hornbeam unfurls striking reddish purple leaves in spring. The male and female catkinsappear in spring at the same time as the leaves. Uses The wood of hop hornbeam is hard and durable. 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